Paris Air Show: Israeli Bluebird fuel cell UAV completes development (14/06/09)

Israeli firm BlueBird unveiled its fuel cell-powered Boomerang unmanned air vehicle at the recent Paris Air Show.

The aircraft, which makes uses of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, has a maximum take-off weight of 9kg and can transport a payload of 1kg.

New hydrogen-powered city car takes to the road (16/06/09)

The concept Riversimple Urban Car, which combines hydrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere to release energy and water, was launched recently in London.

Weighing just 350kg, the vehicle aims to overcome the traditional hurdles associated with fuel cell cars, relating to their expensive components, lack of power and paucity of hydrogen storage.

It makes use of a 6kW fuel cell, requires just 1kg of liquid hydrogen to travel 300km and can reach a top speed of 50 mph, New Scientist reports.

World automakers reaffirm fuel cell commercialization time tables (17/06/09)

A number of the world's largest automakers have again outlined their commitment to bringing fuel cell vehicle technology to full commercialisation.

Production is expected to hit about 50,000 in California by 2017, despite recent budget cuts by the US government.

Daimler is commencing output of its Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell this summer, while also operating ten latest-generation buses in Hamburg, Germany next year.

General Motors has 110 units on the road in the US, Honda's FCX Clarity was named as World Green Car of the Year at the New York Auto Show and an industry consortium in Japan recently announced a 2015 commercialisation target.

Toyota plans fuel-cell car by 2015 (22/06/09)

Meanwhile, Toyota, the world's largest automaker, has also reaffirmed its intention to bring fuel cell vehicles to the mass market by 2015.

Speaking at a shareholders' meeting at the company's headquarters in Aichi, Vice-President Masatami Takimoto confirmed that the greener technology is on the way, AFP reports.

Nissan launches UK Hydrogen Network project (22/06/09)

Nissan has launched a new initiative aimed at ensuring the UK is one of the world's top hydrogen economies by 2015.

The Japanese manufacturer commenced the UK Hydrogen Network at its technical centre in Bedfordshire with the intention of making the country the top choice for automakers rolling out their fuel cell cars.

NEAH successfully tests anaerobic DMFC prototype (26/06/09)

NEAH Power Systems has revealed that it has developed a new type of fuel cell which could be invaluable for water-based vehicles or perhaps even space-related travel.

The low-cost, liquid electrolyte-based direct methanol fuel cell, which can generate 8W of gross power, was successfully tested with replacement cartridges by the firm, Fuel Cell Today reports.

Vehicle Projects Fuel Cell Locomotive Unveiled in Kansas (30/06/09)

Vehicle Projects has unveiled its new hydrogen-powered fuel cell locomotive in Kansas, developed in partnership with the BNSF Railway Company.

The vehicle, which will now be sent for extra testing in Chicago, will then be moved to California, where the technology itself will be assessed, Fuel Cell Today reports.

Brazil launches bus powered by hydrogen fuel cells (01/07/09)

A new passenger bus with a fuel cell-powered electric engine has been launched in Brazil and will be debuted in Sao Paulo in August, the Associated Press reports.

"Brazil is one of five countries in the world that have mastered this technology and that has developed a hydrogen-powered bus," Sao Paulo Governor Jose Serra told the news provider.

Hydrogen buses, clean power stations and greener laptops: Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative launches a €140 million call for proposals for cutting-edge research (02/07/09)

The European Commission has further underlined its commitment to developing fuel cell technology by launching a second call for innovative ideas to be put forward.

Industrial partners are matching the commission's €71 million (£61.5 million) outlay to ensure that fuel cell technology comes to the market two to five years in advance of accepted estimates.

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative covers 29 topics, ranging from smaller areas such as cars to larger-scale projects such as power plants.

Investment in Volvo’s fuel-cell technology to create 100 new positions (02/07/09)

Meanwhile, Volvo has confirmed that it intends to invest 200 million Swedish kronor (£15.7 million) into its development of fuel cells over the next three years.

The move - which will be in partnership with the Swedish Energy Agency, Midroc New Technology and OCAS - will see 100 jobs created at Volvo's Powercell Sweden unit in Gothenburg.

Honda looks beyond hybrids to hydrogen cars (04/07/09)

Honda's Head of Environment Planning Michio Shinohara has revealed that his company is committed to producing fuel cell cars, despite admitting that consumers are still "scared" by hydrogen technology, the Times reports.

The company is trialling the installation of domestic hydrogen stations at properties in California and Mr Shinohara hopes that its FCX Clarity will become a fundamental part of the average consumer's greener lifestyle.

Plug Power receives award to operate residential gensys fuel cells in New York state homes (07/07/09)

Plug Power confirmed last week that it has received a $1.4 million (£867,586) grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to deliver a new fuel cell project.

The firm intends to trial three of its combined heat and power GenSys units in homes located in the US state and expects them to bring about 30 per cent reductions in monthly utility bills.

Automation Takes On Fuel Cell Manufacturing (07/07/09)

Finally, a senior figure at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has outlined his plans to develop new automation processes to cut the costs associated with producing fuel cells.

Ray Puffer, Programme Director for Industrial Automation at the facility, told Automation World that he is particularly focusing on "applying adaptive process controls to the manufacturing process for membrane electrode assemblies".

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